Source: Reuters
Two fast-moving wildfires erupted Tuesday in Southern California, forcing tens of thousands to flee and leaving a path of destruction across neighborhoods, including Pacific Palisades — a scenic, ocean-adjacent area known for its celebrity residents and multimillion-dollar homes.
Pacific Palisades: A Hollywood Haven in Flames
Actor James Woods shared footage of flames creeping toward his home, while Steve Guttenberg urged evacuees to leave their car keys behind to clear roads for emergency crews.
The Pacific Palisades fire broke out late Tuesday morning, consuming approximately 4.6 square miles of land in the picturesque hillside community that borders Malibu and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Home to numerous Hollywood stars, the neighborhood’s tightly packed homes and lush landscaping fueled the flames, forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate.
Winds gusting up to 60 mph pushed the fire into exclusive gated communities and onto streets lined with mansions. Many residents abandoned their cars in gridlocked traffic and fled on foot. Some carried suitcases, pets, and children as ash rained down and flames closed in on both sides of roads.
Resident Kelsey Trainor described the terrifying scene: “The fire jumped from one side of the road to the other. People were crying and screaming, trying to escape. The road was completely blocked for an hour.”
Emergency crews used bulldozers to clear abandoned vehicles, creating paths for fire trucks. Helicopters dropped water on burning homes, but erratic winds hampered containment efforts.
Governor Gavin Newsom, who was nearby for a national monument event, visited the area, calling the destruction “widespread and heartbreaking.” He declared a state of emergency and warned that winds were expected to intensify overnight.
Altadena’s Eaton Fire Adds to the Crisis
While the Pacific Palisades fire dominated headlines, another blaze broke out Tuesday evening in Altadena, northeast of Los Angeles. The Eaton fire erupted near a nature preserve, prompting the dramatic evacuation of a senior care center. Staff pushed residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds to safety in a parking lot as flames spread rapidly.
Though smaller in scale, the Eaton fire underscored the region’s vulnerability to extreme winds and dry conditions, which officials said could persist for days.
Battling the Blazes Amid Challenging Conditions
Firefighting efforts were hindered by the Santa Ana winds, notorious for their speed and unpredictability. Wind gusts reached 100 mph in mountain areas, grounding aircraft and forcing firefighters to battle the flames on foot.
Pacific Palisades, typically a haven for tranquility and coastal views, transformed into a disaster zone. Resident Will Adams, who has lived in the area for 56 years, said, “The sky turned brown, then black. Transformers were exploding. It’s chaos.” Adams described how embers set his wife’s car alight as she tried to evacuate.
Actor James Woods shared footage of flames creeping toward his home, while Steve Guttenberg urged evacuees to leave their car keys behind to clear roads for emergency crews.
President Joe Biden, in Los Angeles for unrelated events, canceled plans to visit Riverside County due to the fires. He pledged federal assistance, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved funding to help cover firefighting costs.
AP Photo by Richard Vogel
Wide-Scale Impact
The Pacific Palisades fire destroyed homes and landmarks, including parts of the Getty Villa’s grounds and classrooms at Palisades Charter High School. Film studios canceled movie premieres, and the Los Angeles Unified School District temporarily relocated students from three campuses.
Over 28,000 homes lost power due to the strong winds, and utilities preemptively cut electricity to 15,000 more to prevent equipment from sparking additional fires.
An Ominous Outlook
Southern California has endured months of dry weather, with less than 0.1 inches of rain since May. The National Weather Service warned that the Santa Ana winds could be the strongest in more than a decade.
Governor Newsom cautioned residents: “By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods. The worst of the winds are still ahead.”
As officials assess the damage, the fires have left a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability to wildfires, even in areas like Pacific Palisades, where ocean breezes and luxury homes usually symbolize peace and exclusivity.
AP Photo by Ethan Swope
Source: Reuters
